A tragic event unfolded late Friday night when an unidentified pedestrian was fatally struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 as it departed from Denver International Airport.
The Airbus A321, en route to Los Angeles International Airport, had 224 passengers and seven crew members onboard. Reports indicate the individual had breached the airport’s perimeter fence and crossed the runway just minutes before the aircraft’s takeoff.
According to statements from airport officials, the pedestrian was struck roughly two minutes after entering the runway area. They confirmed the individual is not believed to be an airport employee and has yet to be identified. The perimeter fence was found intact during inspections.
While twelve passengers reported minor injuries, five were taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation. The airport expressed deep sorrow for those affected by this unfortunate incident.
Immediately following the accident, the runway was closed for investigation but has since been reopened.
Frontier Airlines A321, Flight 4345, struck and killed a pedestrian on DEN Runway 17L last night during its takeoff roll. The person had just jumped the perimeter fence and ran onto the active runway. The individual was hit about two minutes later near the mid-field area, far… pic.twitter.com/4WPzW4hK3M
— SafetySwipe (@SafetyNotorious) May 9, 2026
Audio from air traffic control captured the pilots’ distress as they relayed the situation, including notes on smoke in the cabin and engine fire, necessitating an emergency evacuation.
Frontier Airlines issued a spokesperson’s statement, confirming that as Flight 4345 took off, it struck a pedestrian on the runway. The pilots aborted takeoff, and passengers were evacuated using emergency slides as a precautionary measure. The airline, alongside the airport and safety authorities, is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and is working in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, local law enforcement, and the airport to conduct thorough inquiries into the incident.
